MESSAGE FROM SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
SPONSOR: UNITED ACTIVE LIVING
To our community,
December is a season for gathering. As we come together at the Bella Concert Hall, we are delighted to do so with enthusiastic support for the Mount Royal Conservatory's Sounds of the Season.
This event has become a cherished tradition within our United Active Living family. It brings together artists of all ages, showcasing their extraordinary talents and boundless energy, and serves as a testament to the incredible diversity and creativity that thrives within our community.
Music transcends generations and unites people in ways that words cannot. It evokes powerful emotions and holds a special place in our memories. At United, we understand the profound impact of music, and it is integral to daily life within our older adult communities. Our residents enjoy many opportunities to continuously immerse themselves in their love for the arts and explore new creative endeavors, proving that age is no barrier to artistic expression and appreciation. It is with great pride that we continue to support Mount Royal's Sounds of the Season and create meaningful occasions for our broader community to share in the joy of music and the arts.
As we embrace the holiday season, I extend my warmest wishes to you all and hope you find as much joy in Sounds of the Season as we do. Thank you for being part of our extraordinary community, and may this event be a testament to the enduring power of music to bring us together.
With warmest regards,
Kim O’Brien
President & CEO
United Active Living
A MESSAGE FROM
TERRY CLARK, DIRECTOR OF THE MOUNT ROYAL CONSERVATORY
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Bella Concert Hall for this year’s Sounds of the Season concert! This is an exciting time of year at the Conservatory, with so many of our students and ensembles taking part in recitals and performances. These events are a chance for students to showcase their skills and for parents, family and friends to come cheer on our young performers! We are continually amazed by our students’ curiosity, creativity and passion, and these are never more evident than during performances!
This time of year is also a time for coming together; for community, connection, and fellowship. What better way to come together than through music! Sounds of the Season is a particularly good example of coming together. Not only do we see so many of our performers together within their choirs and orchestra, this event also sees these groups coming together and collaborating for the larger performance.
Thank you for coming together with us this evening! Now I invite you to sit back and enjoy the smiles and exuberant performances of tonight’s ensembles. We wish you and yours a cheerful holiday season!
PROGRAMME
Baba Yetu
“Our Father” in Swahili
Music: Christopher Tin
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT
ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Heebee Jeebees
再別康橋 Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again
Poem by: 徐志摩 Zhimo Xu
Music: 李達濤 Da Tao LI
Arranged by : 周鑫泉 xin Quan Zhou
ZHI YIN CHOIR
再回首 Looking Back Again
Words by: 陳樂融 Le Rong Chen
Music: 盧冠廷 Guan Ting Lu
Arrangement:: 金巍 Wei Jin
ZHI YIN CHOIR
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Text: Charles Wesley
Music: Felix Mendelssohn
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT
ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Heebee Jeebees
A Cowboy Christmas
Arrangements: Donovan Seidle
Blazing Saddles - Warner Bros. Pictures (1974) John Morris
The Big Country - MGM (1958) Jerome Moross
Cat Ballou - Columbia/Tristar (1965) Mack David/Jerry Livingstone
A Fistful of Dollars - MGM (1967) Ennio Morricone
The Comancheros - Paramount Pictures (1961) Elmer Bernstein
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - Warner Bros. Pictures (1974) Max Steiner
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
INTERMISSION
Tundra
Music: Ola Gjeilo
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT
ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Heebee Jeebees
O Magnum Mysterium
Music: Morten Lauridsen
MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI
Song for a Winter’s Night
Music: Gordon Lightfoot
Arr: Michael Hannawalt and Justine Sasanfar
MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI
Cantique de Jean Racine
Music: Gabriel Faure
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Joy to the World
Music:James Lord Pierpont
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Sanctus and Benedictus from “The Armed Man”
Music: Karl Jenkins
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
Heebee Jeebees
Hallelujah Chorus from "The Messiah" by George Frideric Handel
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA, MOUNT ROYAL KANTOREI, AND ZHI YIN CHOIR
KANTOREI
Mount Royal Kantorei, is set to take the stage in Cork, Ireland, to compete for one of the most coveted trophies in choral singing, the Fleischmann International Trophy. The auditioned, 82-person, mixed voice choir, which is Mount Royal Conservatory’s flagship chorus, will compete for the prize at the 70th annual Cork Inter national Choral Festival next year. They will be up against some of the best amateur choirs in the world, with previous winners hailing from Finland, Estonia, USA, and Slovenia.
John Morgan, Mount Royal Kantorei’s Artistic Director, says the competition will be a milestone in the choir’s 30-year history.
“Kantorei is one of the most exciting classical choirs in Canada with an incredibly diverse range of voices, personalities, and singers who unite their voices in a shared love of traditional and contemporary classical choral music. An age gap of more than fifty years separates our youngest and oldest vocalists, proving the power of music to bring people together. We cannot wait to come together with other choirs from all over the world to compete for the Fleischmann International Trophy next year,” he said.
“2025 marks Kantorei’s 30th anniversary year - the choir was founded in 1995 and our choristers have performed more than 700 pieces of music in that time. Competing in Cork will be one of the highlights in our choral history, he continued. “We hope to make Calgary, and Canada, proud.”
JOHN MORGAN
John has a passion for music education and performance and believes in bringing out the best in musicians, vocal groups and individual artists he works with by creating a working environment that fosters learning, creativity, musical development, collaboration, and fun. He focuses on directing multi-genre vocal groups, as well as delivering full-service music direction for local artists, corporations and events through his studio Morgan Music in Calgary. He is a conductor, organist, pianist, recording engineer and published composer and arranger whose work has been performed by groups across North America. In addition to his work with Mount Royal Kantorei, John is the Artistic Director of Revv52, a 52-voice auditioned pop vocal group known for its innovative music videos and immersive performances. He also serves as the Vocal Director of the Young Canadians, a 120-member auditioned vocal and dance group, and the Music Director and Organist at St. Anthony’s Church.
MARY BUCKLEY
Mary was an elementary classroom teacher and music specialist for more than thirty years. Accompanying has also been an important part of her musical activities. She directed and accompanied her own elementary school choirs throughout her teaching career.
At present she is the accompanist for the choir at St Gerard’s Catholic Church, and has accompanied for Mount Royal Kantorei since 2013. Mary enjoys the opportunity to enrich her musical experiences through learning new and challenging music with Mount Royal Kantorei.
KANOTREI – LIST OF MEMBERS
Hrafn Haugr
Jacob Bowe
Sara Saba
Tyler Walmsley
Arlan Anderson
Ricardo Avelar
Carol Bartel Nickel
Alan Born
Lynne Brinkworth
Michael Bruch
John Bullas
Amanda Burke
Mary Campbell
Susan Chambers
Michael Chase
Alexander Chumley
Ronald Chune
Lisa Collins
Twylla Jayne Conn
Gunnar DeBruijn
Sheri DeBruijn
Jacee Decker
Penny Dejager
Christopher Downey
Nazneen Doyle
Adam Elkestawi
Nikolas Emmer
Peter Exner
Donna Flotre
Rebecca Frederick
Constance Friesen
Heather Gamber
Cristina Garcia
Helen Goodchild
Richard Gorecki
Alexandra Guebert
Joelle Haney
Christin Hilbert Hardock
Christine Horne
Olga Latapi
Kailey Lee
Sylvie Linteau
Bobbi Lintner
Anne Livesey-Husak
Eunice Loudon
Mark Louie
Stephanie Macdonald
Ondrea Mann
David Matthies
Corinne McDonald
Freya Melax
Ken Melax
Julian Miranda
Rachel Miranda
Hannah Mitchell
Laila Moos
Meraka Moulton
Orlean Muirhead
Jennifer Nakaska
Louise Neufeld
Shelli Orton
Emily Peterson
Nicola Pieterse
Anne Pozzi
Sabrina Reed
Laverne Rude
Lisa Rude
Christian Savard
Evelyn Scheibli
Mike Schuett
Roy Schultz
Dwight Smith
Feckla Spaulding
Kayleigh Suggett
Dean Taggart
Dree Thomson
Frances Vettergreen
Beth Walmsley
Diane Ward
Laurel Ward
Farron Wielinga
Peter Wong
Tom Wong
Robert Woodward
Stephen Wright
THE HEEBEE JEEBEES
The Heebee-jeebees are a 4-man Canadian comic a cappella quartet formed in 1993 to meet girls, who have over the past 30 years sung thousands of perfor mances, appeared on local, national and international radio, television and print. The group has a reputation for being hilarious, entertaining and extremely talented. The Heebee-jeebees have released nine recordings, all to international recognition including 4 CARA nominations and 2 CARA Awards (the Grammy's of a cappella). They have won the Canadian Championships of Harmony twice, as well as multiple Championships in the USA. They were inducted into the Canadian A Cappella Hall of Fame and have inspired many other groups to form & quit. The Heebee-jeebees continue to impress and entertain audiences across North America and are considered the very best of comedic a cappella entertainment.
LIST OF MEMBERS
Jonathan "J-Lo" Love
Chris "Herard" Herard
Cédric "Sedge" Blary
Ken "KennyV" Lima-Coelho
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Considered to be the flagship ensemble of the Mount Royal University Conservatory, the Calgary Youth Orchestra is recognized as one of the finest youth orchestras in the country. Under its music director, Edmond Agopian, the CYO has toured Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and New Zealand. The CYO was honoured to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Calgary in May 2005, and for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, at the Saddledome in 2009.
The orchestra has commissioned works from a number of composers, most recently Canadian composers Michael van der Sloot, George Fenwick, Laurie Radford and Scott RossMolyneux. The CYO has also presented the world premieres of works by Claude Debussy, completed and orchestrated by the renowned English musicologist Robert Orledge.
The CYO has worked with such illustrious conductors as Roberto Minczuk, Mario Ber nardi, Bramwell Tovey, Ivars Taurins, Jean Lamon, Andrés Cárdenes and Hans Graf, among others.
The orchestra has performed in collaboration with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and with Jeunesse Classique Ballet, at festivals throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, and on-stage at the 2008 Juno Awards. CYO alumni can be found in such world-renowned ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as all major Canadian orchestras.
EDMOND AGOPIAN, MUSIC DIRECTOR
A violin graduate of the Juilliard School, Edmond Agopian began his studies in his native Romania. In 1991, he relinquished his post at Acadia University to take up positions as Professor of Violin and Conductor at the University of Calgary, and Artist-in- Residence at Mount Royal Conservatory. He was appointed Music Director of the Calgary Youth Orchestra in 2002.
He has been awarded the Calgary Arts Award, and the Alberta Centennial Medal “in recognition of outstanding achievement and service to the people and province of Alberta”. At the University of Calgary, he was awarded the John Peter Lee Roberts Distinguished Professorship in Fine Arts.
As a violinist, he has been featured on regional and national CBC, French and English radio programs, Radio Europa, and as soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He is First Violin of the University of Calgary String Quartet in Residence, whose recording on the American label MSR Classics has received enthusiastic reviews from radio broadcasters and magazines, including Fanfare Magazine (USA). Conducting work has included performances with the Canadian Chamber Orchestra (conductor and concertmaster), the Shanghai Opera Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, and conductor and soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. His Sundogs CD recording with the University of Calgary Orchestra, of Canadian orchestral music, was described by one critic as a “hands-down winner”. Under his direction, the Calgary Youth Orchestra has toured, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and New Zealand.
For thirteen seasons he was Music Director/Concertmaster of Calgary’s professional string orchestra, the Kensington Sinfonia and for twenty years he was on the faculty of the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival at Mount Royal University Conservatory, in Beijing, Shanghai, and Gdansk, Poland.
His violin method The No Time to Practice Technique Companion has been on the SHAR Music Company’s Bestseller List since 2002 and has been positively reviewed in the American String Teacher magazine. His students have won local, national and international awards, including the Rose Bowl – Calgary Performing Arts Festival, and are members of major orchestras, including four violinists in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA – LIST OF MEMBERS
VIOLIN 1
Avery Krahn^ (evening)
Yana Zubrytska^ (afternoon)
Carissa Bai
Maya Brideaux
Ana Gonzales
Isaac Hobel
Evan Jung
Josef Kim
Conan Li
Aedan Lowry
Chanan Ngo
Serafina Oliva
Isaac Pang
Mira Scullen
Briana Seo
Luca Todea
Megan Wang
Josephine Wen
Annabel Zhu
VIOLIN 2
Jinqi Hu*
Alexander Bilson
Finn Brosseau
Emma Heung
Emily Jang
Audrey Lee
Hao An Li
Jadyn Li
Oliver Linton
Eleanor Lipkind
Chloe Luo
Michelle Mah
Jessica Muchiri
Eden Swalm
Aiden Wong
Selina Zhang
VIOLA
Sophie Ryskine*
Hannele Agbunag
Zephram Gilson
Emily Gu
Tanya Ma
Elena Swalm
Patrick Vu
CELLO
Aaron Janse-Deng*
Mateo Barcan
Aniya Brar Ahmed
Malcolm Clarke
Gabe Cook
Curtis Fok
Matias Francese
Ian Guo
Teaghan Krahn
Eva Martino
Tai Shishiba
Arthur Xu
Phoebe Xu
BASS
Madeleine Ryan*
Reiss Challoner
FLUTE
Sweta Babladi
Leyla Calderon
Grace Chang
Bella Nguyen
Madyson Singleton
Rhianna Stafford
Paul Xu
OBOE
Sasha Adderley*
CLARINET
Alexander Sunie*
Ethan Yang
BASSOON
Michael Weaver*
HORN
Sonia Sward*
Jonathan Kennedy*
Shellbie Chayeski*
Nolan Asplund
TRUMPET
Federico Martino*
Maxim Oleshko*
Robert Lin
TROMBONE
Charlie Reid*
Henno Johnson
BASS TROMBONE
Ben Kyba
TUBA
Omari Holaki
PERCUSSION
Sydney Ball
Eric Chan
Jasmine Shuen
^denotes Concertmaster * denotes Principal
CALGARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR DONORS
DONORS
Anonymous
Baher Family Fund at the Edmonton
Community Foundation
Kristell Clark
John Thompson
CYO BOARD MEMBERS
Maydelin Nunez - President
Bruce Nysetvold - Vice President
Beverley Erickson - Treasurer
Joanna Ho - Secretary
Tammy Poon - Past President
Nic Chan
Terry Clark - Mount Royal Conservatory
Viviana D’Ambrosio
Kirk Linton
Diep Lipkind
Renee Sward
John Thompson - Honorary Member
MANAGER
Po Yeh
ZHI-YIN CHOIR BIOGRAPHY:
Founded in 2004 as a non-profit organization in Alberta, the Mount Royal Zhi-Yin Choir plays an important role in Calgary, especially among the local Chinese community. Led by its founder and conductor, Shana Yang, the choir is made up of diverse adults from different backgrounds and professions who share a passion for music.
The Zhi-Yin Choir focuses on both popular and classical music, with a name that means ‘friends in music’, reflecting its goal to build musical connections and promote multiculturalism in Canada. Through their performances, the choir aims to bring people together, encourage cooperation, and establish connections. Under the guidance of Shana Yang and with input from guest speakers, the Zhi-Yin Choir provides valuable vocal coaching to its members, enhancing their skills and contributing to the choir’s overall excellence. The choir also connects with the audience by hosting annual concerts in Calgary and performing in other cities like Edmonton, Vancouver, New York, and Taipei.
With a strong history of community involvement and a dedication to musical proficiency, the Mount Royal Zhi-Yin Choir symbolizes unity, cultural exchange, and artistic accomplishment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Calgary Zhi-Yin Choir wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the Alberta Foundation of Arts for providing operation grants from 2009. The money was used to support the cost associated with operations and programming.
SHANA YANG - DIRECTOR OF ZHI-YIN CHOIR
Shana Yang, the founder, conductor and vocal teacher of the Calgary Zhi-Yin Choir since 2004, has played a pivotal role in elevating the choir's reputation within Calgary's art communities. With more than two decades of expertise as a university graduate from China, specializing in vocal music and choral conducting, Shana's exceptional talent has garnered provincial and national recognition.
In addition to her work with the choir, Shana extends her influence through private singing lessons, focusing on vocal techniques and stage performance. Her students have achieved remarkable success in competitions around the world.
Drawing from her extensive experience in chorus conducting and concert management, Shana actively engages in various art activities, taking advantage of Canada's multicultural climate. She is determined to continue serving the art communities in Calgary, devoting her time and effort to this purpose. Furthermore, Shana's commitment to the arts extends beyond her work with the choir. Currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors at the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), she remains dedicated to advancing her contributions and making a difference in the artistic landscape.
JAMES (ZIXIN) CHEN - ACCOMPANIST OF ZHI-YIN CHOIR
James began studying piano at the age of 7, and at the age of 12, he began studying with Marilyn Engle. Under her guidance, James was a finalist in the RBC Concerto Competition and competed in the Canadian Music Competition, Calgary Concerto Competition, and several Calgary Kiwanis Festivals (now the Calgary Performing Arts Festivals). He performed for artists such as Aleksandar Madžar, Pavel Kolesnikov and attended the ACMUIN (Académie Musicale Internationale Barbara Krakauer) in Provence, France, and the Coimbra World Piano Meeting in Portugal. Having great interest in both engineering and music, he has completed a double majors program in Electrical Engineering and Piano Performance and achieved both a Master of Music in Performance and a Master of Engineering in Software Engineering. During his studies at the University of Calgary, James has been awarded with the Seymour Schulich Scholarship for Academic Excellence for 3 years as well as numerous scholarships from the Music division.
